Breathwork is the therapeutic use of conscious, connected breathing. It is a combination of ancient wisdom and modern science. The intention of Breathwork is to guide the unfolding of full human potential inherent in each human being.

Breathwork is one of the most powerful transformative processes available, as it enables simple access to the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels of being. In every moment, the breath nourishes us. It continually works to keep us alive. It gives us the power to think and create. At all moments, it reflects and expresses the truth of our being, our state of health and the level of our consciousness. Breathwork uses the breath to clear unresolved issues, limiting beliefs and past events in our lives that are standing in the way of us reaching our full potential. It is an individual focused, self-generated process.

What happens in a breathwork session?Breathwork sessions can be conducted as one-to-one sessions with a practitioner or can be completed in a group setting. The Breathwork session is usually conducted lying down whilst the participant is breathing. The practitioner sits beside the participant and supports him/her to let go of their mind chatter, focus on their breathing and bring awareness to any body sensations, words, memories or images that are present.

Sessions usually run for two to three hours. These sessions usually start with a time of sharing for the participant with their practitioner, the breathing process, and then a debrief.Breathwork is an organic, self-generated process. Participants have a physical, emotional, mental and or spiritual experience during their session. Sometimes it can be a combination of a few of these.

Experiences can be:Physical• tightness, tingling, cramping, numbness• heightened capacity to allow energy to move through the body• peace, calm and pleasure of being present in the bodyMental• awareness of the mind’s distraction – Mindfulness• memories of past events, relationships, early childhood and even birth and conception• increased awareness of patterns, conditioning, limiting decisions and beliefs learned as a child• and the ability to become less reactive and more presentSpiritual• deep relaxation and a sense of bliss• connection to self/spirit/universe• experiences of meditation

Breathwork is a powerful process for easing or alleviating emotional pain and gaining insight into why we behave and react in certain ways. Some sessions can be quite subtle and inner while others can be cathartic and releasing. As the process works on a number of levels results will be seen and felt on different levels. Some sessions are very clear in their outcome while in others we may feel and experience the results over a period of time in our lives.At times, it may feel like nothing is happening. Nothing is never happening, and the session is always a reflection of what is happening in our life. Fear, resistance and holding may arise for some people. By working with these feelings and sensations it is addressing these issues in life.How can it help you?By entering the Breathwork process it has the ability to change our life.When we are safe enough and ready enough to face our past, present and future, and enter into this process, the changes can be transformational.

The process can bring about changes in a number of areas including:• Physical body – aches, pains, contraction, illness can be released and/or awareness bought to our existence• Emotional body – deep feelings which drain the body of energy when suppressed/repressed can come to the surface to be cleared and their cause resolved.• Mental body – beliefs, decisions and conditioning (conscious and unconscious) can be reprogrammed to allow us to live more fully in the present• Spiritual body – deep connection/reconnection can be made with the Self, soul and universal energy.Breathwork allows us to change our outlook on life, values, choices, decisions as well as behaviours.

How do you start?Practitioners offer different cycles of sessions. Each practitioner develops their own distinctive point of view and way of approaching working with the breath.It is recommended that new participants have a sequence of sessions to begin with. This helps them to learn how to use the breath effectively. It cannot be learned in one session.Another reason for session cycles of 3, 5 or 10 is to have the continuity to work on deeper issues. Some issues are not dealt with in one session. For example, the effects of very traumatic events like rape or violence or severe accidents require time.Each Breathwork session is a step in the unfolding of the body memory and each person will find their own pace at which to work.A commitment to a session cycle also helps to overcome resistance when uncomfortable feelings and experiences emerge from the subconscious.The fee for an individual session varies depending on area and practitioner. Group Breathwork fees also vary depending on the facilitator.

WHAT PEOPLE SAYBelow are some of the results and comments from a survey of Breathwork practitioners and clients.

How highly would you rate the effectiveness of Breathwork as a therapeutic tool? Extremely effective - 79% Very effective - 17% Varies greatly - 3%

Shared experiences of Breathwork

"My experiences have been extremely positive and life changing. Breathwork has enabled me to face some deep personal issues and to resolve them - thus enriching the quality of my life".

"Breathwork helped me get in touch with, and to some extent to see, the false associations, of long suppressed feelings and beliefs. this helped me see that happiness was a possibility that I had almost given up on"

"I have had mostly personal experiences with Breathwork. I feel that the breath in all its forms is the one natural things we always have with us - it sustains us - and when we are in pain or in fear or worried or feeling anything negative really, then our breath changes - we tend to hold it, to shorten it, to keep is shallow and in doing so it starves the body and the brain and the flow of energy throughout the body. When I have been guided to breathe deeply and fully through my distress I have experienced it leaving out of me".

"My experience of Breathwork has changed my life enormously. Due to its profound influence and the new understandings that I have about myself I have been able to change my life for the better.Due to being a Breathwork client and having such a profound experience from Breathwork, I undertook the training to be a Breathwork Practitioner and now work professionally to support others".

"It treats depression, anxiety, addictions, fatigue and help you find inner peace and purpose in life".

"I have supported people who have anxiety, depression, sleeping problems, emotional problems and grief. It is especially good for unresolved grief related to trauma."